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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/2026/Governor/Iowa
      2026 ForecastLikely D
      2026·Governor·Iowa

      Iowa Governor

      Open Seat

      Kim Reynolds (R) retiring

      Race Analysis

      Sand has been building to this moment his whole career and it's hard to see it ending any way other than with a Rob Sand victory.

      Updated 2026-02-18

      Candidates & Primaries

      Democratic Candidates

      Rob SandDDeclared

      Iowa State Auditor

      Republican Candidates

      TBDRDeclared

      Reynolds term-limited; GOP primary ongoing

      State Demographics

      Iowa vs. National · Pop. 3.2M

      White (non-Hispanic)82.3%
      National: 57.4%
      Black3.9%
      National: 12.2%
      Hispanic/Latino7.3%
      National: 19.3%
      Asian2.5%
      National: 6.0%
      College Degree31.8%
      National: 35.6%
      Median Income$75,689
      National: $83,960
      Median Age38.8
      National: 39.1

      Seat History

      Governor in Iowa

      2022
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+18.5
      2018
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+2.7
      2014
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.7
      2010
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+9.6
      2006
      Chet CulverDEM
      D+9.7
      2002
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+8.2
      1998
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+5.8
      1994
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+15.2
      1990
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.8
      1986
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+3.9
      1982
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+6.3
      1978
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+17.3
      1974
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+17.1
      1972
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+18.2
      1970
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+4.4
      View all Governor history for Iowa →

      Also in Iowa, 2026

      U.S. Senate
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